Archive for October, 2010

How to Buy Your New Car- A Methodological Approach

Choosing a car is an important decision that merits careful planning. One should take number of things into consideration before buying a car. Following these steps can make the task easier and make you choose the right car for you: Decide what you intend to use the car for daily commuting; recreation; weekends and evenings out; carrying things; towing a trailer; carrying more than one passenger; driving in the city, suburbs or country. Consider factors that are important to you, such as looks, fuel efficiency, performance, reliability and safety features. Come up with a realistic budget, based on what you can afford (consider the monthly payment and cost of upkeep).
Locate a town or an area near your home with several car dealerships; check Sunday newspaper advertisements and the yellow pages. But the best option would be to locate an easy and good site for buying and selling cars online which will involve less effort and energy. Sites like http://www.indimoto.com are a great help.

Find a car that interests you and hop in it. Adjust the seat and mirrors, and check leg room in each part of the car. Ask to take a test drive. Start out on city streets and then head out to the highway. Pay attention to steering ease, turning radius, braking response and acceleration. Adjust the mirrors and radio while you’re driving to test convenience. Return to the dealership and thank the dealer. If you like the car, ask for a business card and say you will return later. Head to the next dealership and investigate other car models as described above. Ask dealers which car most closely resembles the one you previously test-drove, providing the make and model and explaining which features you liked. Test a number of models until you decide on a car, and compare these prices with those at other dealerships.

Some important tips:
Inquire about availability and delivery time, especially if you’re interested in a popular model or want special features
Factor the dealership and its sales staff into your choice. A dealership you can trust, especially one with a competent service centre on site, is worth more than money in your long future with the vehicle. You can, of course, have your car serviced at any dealer authorized by your new car’s warranty.
Start negotiations on polite and friendly terms. Comment on what you like about the car and ask questions. The intent is to make the seller comfortable.
Make your first offer. It should be lower than what you’re willing to pay, but not an insulting figure. Use the list price as a reference, remembering that dealer profit (often around 10 percent) is built into this figure.
Allow the seller to make a counteroffer. If the price is too high, say you’re not able to afford that and ask him to talk to his manager.
If the salesperson balks at your first offer, make a slightly higher one. Continue negotiating until you can agree on a price within your budget. If you can’t agree on a price, seek out another dealer. You may be able to go back and get the first dealer to underbid the second dealer
Avoid setting your heart on one particular model or make. There are hundreds of excellent vehicles on the market, and becoming attached to one of them may make you less hard-headed in your bargaining.

 

Lincoln Gets Into a Squabble Because Of the MKX

The Ford Motor Companys Lincoln division of luxury vehicles recently got into a squabble with the Honda Motor Company. This was during the Detroit auto show back in January this year when the squabble started. Several employees from the Acura division of Honda were checking out a sport utility vehicle which was a fairly new vehicle from the Lincoln brand. However, they noticed that the name of this new vehicle, Lincoln MKX, was very much similar to the Acura SUV named Acura MDX.

After the said show was over, the Acura division then sent off a letter to the Lincoln divisions mother company, the Ford Motor Company. The letter demanded that the luxury line drop the name, MKX. However, the Ford Motor Company refused to do such a thing. This led to Acura filing a lawsuit. The accusation was that Ford was guilty of trademark infringement. The lawsuit is currently still in the process of being decided over. However, the thing is that behind all this big issue is the simple squabble over a combination of letters.

The Lincoln MKX is actually pronounced as Mark X. It is a crossover sport utility vehicle. Expectations for this vehicle include this vehicle as a replacement for the Lincoln Aviator comes the following year. This new sport utility vehicle would be built along with the Ford Edge in the companys assembly plant in Ontario, Canada. Sources have it that the 2007 Lincoln MKX would be bearing a price tag that ranges from $34,495 to $44,885.

Main competitors for this crossover vehicle would include the Cadillac SRX, the Acura MDX, the Lexus RX, and the BMW X5. Also, this vehicle has been built on the CD3 platform which is also the one used by the Ford Edge and the Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ. It will hold the Ford 3.5 liter Duratec 35 V6 engine which has the capacity to produce 250 units of horsepower and 240 units of pound-feet.

 

Keeping Your New Car Shining

One of the best things about owning a new car is its smooth, shiny “showroom” look. Maintaining that look-by washing and waxing your car regularly and touching up any scratches-can keep it looking new longer.

Fortunately, the latest cars are finished with a high-tech process that makes it easier for car owners to maintain that new-car look. Many cars on the market today have a powder coated finish that helps protect them from chips and scratches, as well as damage caused by UV rays, harsh weather, salt spray and acid rain.

A clearcoat can protect the car’s high-gloss finish, which keeps your car looking new longer.

Several of America’s car manufacturers have discovered that this technique offers many advantages over liquid paint. The environmentally friendly finishing process eliminates the need for costly waste-disposal equipment and oversprayed powder particles can be recovered and reused.

Some of the manufacturers using this process include GM, Chrysler, BMW, Volvo, Lincoln, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz and Dodge. Every bit of exposed metal in DaimlerChrysler’s European Smart Car has been powder coated.

It’s not just the outside of the cars that benefits from powder coating. As well as having an exterior clearcoat, many new cars also have powder coated decorative wheels, hubcaps and trim. It’s even used on truck beds, door handles and engine parts.

It isn’t only car manufacturers that have discovered the process. It’s found on thousands of home and garden products, as well as sporting goods, recreational vehicles and office furniture and equipment.

It has become a universally preferred method of finishing for all the same reasons it has been so enthusiastically adopted by car manufacturers.

 

Mazda 626, Mazdas Family Car

After the Mazda 616 and the Mazda 618 and also before the Mazda Mazda6 came the Mazda 626. The former mentioned vehicles, the Mazda 616 and the Mazda 618, were the predecessors of the Mazda 626. Of course, this vehicle is the product of the Mazda Motor Companys hard work and efforts. They have been able to build the Mazda 626 as a compact and midsize car. Its competition in the automobile market includes the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, the Nissan Stanza, and the Hyundai Sonata.

The Mazda Motor Corporation targeted the Mazda 626 to be designed and marketed as a car that could be utilized by families. Also, they made the vehicle as a commodity that could be exported to other areas and regions. It was actually based on the Mazda Capella which was a vehicle that the company only sold in Japan. In 1979, the Mazda 626 replaced the spot that was the Mazda 616s, Mazda 618s, and the Mazda RX 2s. Up until 2002, the Mazda 626 was in production. However, soon enough, the Mazda Mazda6 took over the family car market and the Mazda 626s production was completely halted.

If you travel to other parts of the globe, you would see that the Mazda 626 was sold under various names. In Asia, in Australasia, and in Southern Africa, this family car was known and marketed as the Ford Telstar. However, it only lived for a short while since the Ford Mondeo, which was sourced from Europe, came into these markets and took over the Ford Telstar.

This vehicle is actually known one of the very first Japanese brand cars that were built in the United States. However, it was certified as a domestic car by the United States government after ten long years. In last years of the Mazda 626, it was built and restyled to have exterior upgrades and interior upgrades. These upgrades gave the Mazda 626 a sportier look and it also provided the vehicle a better performance and handling.

 

How To Buy Your Dream Car And Avoid Car Dealers’

How To Buy Your Dream Car And Avoid Car Dealers’ Dirty Tricks

How to buy a new Car

Buying a car is usually our second biggest investment after our home purchase and most of us will do it more than once in our life.

There is something emotional about cars, it represents our taste and style, our economic status and our character. Some women even claim that a car is a mans extension of his reproductive organ. One the other hand (the good hand) there are women out there that might express their exhibitionism and extravagance by choosing to drive a red flashy car for the whole world to notice them. Both sexes would agree they sometimes feel they fall in love with a certain car model.

There are people who get very existed from a small scratch on the cars lower side, as if it were their own skin. The beauty of the car, its aerodynamics shape, the gadgets inside, the seats the feel of it all play a major part in our decision making.

In our modern life its almost impossible to function without one and its expensive to acquire, to finance and to maintain.

Buying a new car is a lot of fun, the new car has its unique smell no doubt about it, the very fact you can afford to own a brand new car is a great feeling.

When is the best time to buy a new car?

There are two “best times” to buy a car. The end of December is a good time for car buyers to buy a new car. Everyone is out buying Christmas gifts, leaving new car dealer lots void of customers, motivating dealers to cut costs, and break year end sales records. Another good time to buy a car is July to October as new car dealers sell off cars at low prices to clear space for new car models. Secret factory to dealer incentives can be $1000-$6000 in addition to new car consumer rebates!

How and where to search for prices:

Invoice price what the dealer pays the manufacturer has become the real negotiating point. Allowing for the dealer’s need to make a profit, the price you pay should be somewhere between sticker and invoice.

Virtually all car buying sites on the Internet show invoice and in most cases their buying tools automatically add option/package invoice amounts as you work your way through the process.

Any car buyer, with very little effort, can get an accurate summation of a car’s value, which immediately puts him or her in a stronger negotiating position.

Happily for the consumer, the Internet now allows a prospective buyer to uncover market conditions at any moment in various parts of the country. Search for Edmunds.com on the web.

for example, reveals the True Market Value: CarsDirect.com, which sells cars online, has its own version called Guaranteed CarsDirect price Intellichoice.com sorts out the Best Deals of the Month.

The negotiation phase and the dirty tricks:

After you made your research via the Internet, its important you make some phone calls to car dealers and ask for some written offers to be sent to you via the fax or email for the car of your dreams. That way, you can compare prices between several dealers without being pressured by a salesperson.

You would be much better off selling your old car yourself rather than to trade it in through the dealer because the dealer will have to earn some money on it as well.

Remember, everything is a negotiable, car too. Buying a new car is tricky from the moment you step into the car dealership arena, you might be manipulated by scam artists, well trained sales persons that will use every trick in their fat book of tricks to extort every last Dollar out of your bank account.

There is one well known trick they teach in car dealers sales courses, its called throwing a lowball, in this tactic a customer is offered a very good price on a car, Perhaps as much as $500 below competitors prices. The good deal, however, is not genuine, its only purpose is to cause a prospect to decide to buy at this dealership and not from the other dealers. Once the decision is made a raft of purchase forms are filled out, extensive financial terms are arranged. The dealer knows, customers develop a range of new reasons to support the choice they have now made.

Then something happens. All of a sudden an error in the calculations is discovered, It might be the salesman forgot to add in the cost of the air conditioner and if the customer insists on having it, then $500 must be added to the price…

The cover up operation is played sophistically, some times they let the bank handling the financing find the mistake, other times the boss is not approving the deal because wed be losing money. They make it look as if its not that big mistake as its a relatively small percentage of the price of the car and as they stress out it only brings it to be equal to competitors.

The impressive thing about the lowball tactic is its ability to make a person feel pleased with a poor choice. If anyone tries to change the originally-quoted terms or talk you into buying a different vehicle, just say “no” and go somewhere else.

If you are interested to learn about many others car dealers scams and how to avoid them go to: carbuyingtips.com/scams

Until all the papers have been signed there are still ways in which a shrewd dealer may add to his profit by talking you into extras you don’t want and probably don’t need. These can include added and overpriced insurance, extended warranties, rust proofing (absolutely unnecessary), paint or fabric protection, anti-theft plans, and more. Smile and firmly turn them all down.

Finally, before you drive away, do a careful inspection of the car, looking for scratches or dents; anything that mars the perfect finish. If you’re not happy, get a written agreement (known as a Due Bill). It means you have the right to later return the vehicle in order that flaws can be corrected.

 

Jaguar XKR: The Beauty of the Beast

Luxury Autos: The dynamic duality of the 2007 Jaguar XKR is absolutely breathtaking. While its presence is magnificent, its performance is equally exhilarating. The vehicle comes directly down the middle of the road and scores colossally on both sides of the track. The XKR lives up to its pedigree of refinement, yet offers no apologies for its unbridled ferocity. This is a luxuriant well-muscled car that packs an exceptionally powerful bite. It is clearly capable of tussling with the “big cats” of this upper-echelon marketplace.

This Jaguar’s roar is not subtle. Powered by a six-speed, sequential-shifting ZF automatic transmission with paddle shifts, the XKR’s 4.2-liter DOHC supercharged V8 engine growls exuberantly. It boasts 420 horsepower, which is 120 more than the XK models. The ZF transmission allows drivers to choose standard drive, sports drive, or full-manual control. With its solid-body, all-aluminum construction, the 2007 XKR sets light on its 19-inch standard aluminum-alloy wheels. The recalibrated CATS suspension is stiffer with firmer springs and dampers. Standard DSC and traction control also contribute to a smooth, stable ride at all speeds. Fortunately, the disc brakes also were upgraded to match the XKR’s extra power.

Its exterior lines define the XKR’s over-the top essence. From the front and centered “R” in the aluminum-mesh grill to the hood louvers to the chrome side-vent trim to the jutting chrome quad tailpipes and perfectly shaped wide rear fascia, it is both brutish and chic. Coupe and convertible Jaguar XKR models are available.

The XKR’s cabin is plush with supple soft grain leather. The dashboard trim comes in burl walnut, poplar or aluminum. The round instrumentation is centered ideally for the driver along with a digital message center. There also is a seven-inch touch screen in the center stack that accesses or provides audio, climate, and navigational info. The heated sport seats, which are powered 10 ways, provide extra lateral support.

MotorWeek named it a co-winner of the Driver’s Choice Award for Best Dream Machine along with the Ferrari 559 GTB Fiorana and the Porsche 911 Turbo. Although being placed among such great cars is truly flattering and complimentary, the 2007 Jaguar XKR’s alluring appeal is peerless.

 

Make Sure Your Car Tyres Are In Good Condition

When it comes to tyres it is a known fact that they are, a crucial part of any vehicle .it does not matter if it is a combine harvester or a formula one racing car you need good quality tyres in good condition in order to use the car van truck or minibus.

You may have noticed that racing cars like formula one seem to look as if they have no tread on the tyre, but these are a special type of tyre which is used in racing.
Tyre sizes can vary from being a small tyre on a childs bicycle or a huge monstrous tyre on a commercial vehicle.

Tyres can come with all sorts of properties, they may be made from a soft rubber compound or may be made from a hard rubber it all depends on the type of transport the tyre is being used for.

When it comes to buying the correct type of tyre for your car, van or minibus you can normally go to your local tyre specialist, these types of garages can be found in all local business directories. It is always a good idea to ask the mechanic to check the rest of your tyres on your car even though you may have only come into have one changed or repaired.

On many occasions you may find that you have a choice of tyre which you can use as prices can vary depending on the brand that you want to buy. A lot of suppliers have a budget range of tyres which are a cheaper alternative to the more expensive brands.

You may wake one day and find you have a puncture on your tyre, this may have been caused by a nail, if the wheel is removed and taken to a tyre centre it may be repaired by using a special patch which is applied to the inner part of the tyre, once the glue has dried it seals the puncture and so you can now reuse the tyre.

When it comes to filling air into tyres great care must be taken. If too much pressure is filled the tyre will wear in the middle and if less pressure is filled it will wear on the edges. This will affect the life of the tyre. It is always recommended to check car manufacturer recommendation to see what the correct pressure is for your particular car.

When you do not have the right amount of pressure in your tyres it will affect the amount of fuel that you will use. When you go to a petrol station you may be fortunate to find a display board with the correct tyre pressure for your vehicle.

The display board will also tell you if you need to have a different pressure at the back of the car compared to the front of the car. You will also see that there are different pressures for a car with a full load as well as for a car that has no load.

Always remember to keep an eye on the condition of your tyres as this is a vital part of your car. The condition will affect your stopping distance depending on the condition of the road as well as the weather.

A small measuring device can be bought from your local car parts store which will give you a reading of the amount of tread that you have left.

 

Learning About Your Land Rover Brakes

Without brakes, a vehicle would surely be hurtling itself and its passengers to danger. And yes, crashes, collisions, and accidents would constantly be happening. What a brake does is it slows down or completely stops the movement or motion of a vehicle. It also keeps the vehicle from going any further if there are other forces that make it move. This is accomplished because the brake pads on the brakes provide friction which makes the vehicle actually slow down or stop.

That is the very reason as per why vehicles, like Land Rover vehicles, need to replace and change their brakes every now and then. Friction causes the life of these brakes to shorten. Each time it is used wears it down a little bit and it also gets used up which is the reason why brakes are oftentimes replaced many times over throughout the lifetime of a vehicle.

So when do you need to replace the brakes, or brake pads of your vehicle? Try to look at your brakes. You would notice that there are actually built in wear indicators which have been specially crafted so as to assist you in knowing when you need to change your brakes. These indicators actually have been crafted so as to be able to make noise to alert and let you know that they need replacing. Did you ever notice any squealing noises? That is the brake indicator.

But do not just completely rely your brakes. After all, these brakes and the brake pads are just a part of the whole brake system of your vehicle. You and your vehicle still need the assistance of brake fluid. If your brake system does not have enough brake fluid, using the brakes may not even work at all. So always remember to check if your vehicle has the right amount of brake fluid in its reservoir to ensure that the next time you brake, your car would slow down or stop.

What does the brake fluid do? Well, it is what actually acts and gives the signal to the calipers in the brake system to push the brakes so much so that your vehicles motion would stop. Checking the amount and level of the brake fluid is something that you can actually do yourself. By just gently moving the reservoir of your brake fluid, you can see if the amount of the brake fluid is just somewhere in between the minimum and the maximum marks.

 

Jaguar For Me; Jag For You?

The British automaker, Jaguar, has certainly stepped it up a notch over the past decade. Dont tell the British, but Ford Motor Companys purchase of the venerable brand likely saved the company from oblivion. The cat is back. Read on for updates about this feline marquee.

I have a friend, his name shall remain anonymous to protect the guilty, and whose knowledge about Jaguar is fairly limited to put it kindly. Both of us enjoy cars, particularly powerful American coupes, and the occasional sedan or hot wagon, such as the Dodge Magnum. When Lincolns new LS made its debut more than five years ago I remarked how the Ford Motor Company crafted both it and the Jaguar S type from the same platform and that this was the first shared venture between the two companies ever. My buddy was perplexed as he considered what I had said. He then retorted, how can Ford and GM build from the same car? Huh?! I was mystified at first, but then I realized his ignorance was typical of many Americans regarding the British automaker: they just did not know the brand.

Unfortunately for Jaguar beyond shows such as Masterpiece Theatre, not too many Americans outside of major cities were familiar with the Jaguar brand. Today, that has all changed. With the introduction of the S type, a midsize sedan and the X type an AWD sedan, Americas perception of Jaguar or Jag-you-are as some are want to pronounce it has changed dramatically and for the better. Jaguar still produces larger sedans including the XJ and the XK, but it is the smaller cars that are receiving the most notice and producing the badly needed sales and revenue for Jaguar.

Even further down the line, Jaguar is really poised to pounce. An all new XK8, a 2+2 rear wheel drive coupe. Departing from Jaguar tradition, the XK8 will have a mostly aluminum veneer, with woods such as poplar and walnut optional. Retailing at $75K the XK8 will also be sold as a convertible.

Additional coupes and an SUV are also being planned and it is expected that the broader selection of vehicles will grow the brand in the US as well as in the UK. Gone are the days of V12 Jaguars, but in its place are some truly outstanding cars that are certain to capture the attention of the car buying public.

 

How to Buy Car from auction Online

Car Auctions are an easy way of getting cars that have been salvaged, repossessed, or bargain used cars. Car auction allows car dealers to

compete against each other for the lowest car price. Car Auctions have been around for years and dealers get a lot of stock from auctions.

Upon car auction completion buyer and seller may contact each if they still want to proceed with the car purchase/sale.

Car-Auction has a database full of thousands of

different repo and government cars just waiting for you to bid on. It is a unique website that searches through different government

auctions where you can bid on repossessed or seized cars.
http://www.car-auctions.multiple-search.com

Repossessed vehicles can feasibly sell for less because the financial institution disposing of them only seeks to offset its losses (also

restricted by federal regulations).

How to bid?

Bid with your brain, not your heart. Bidding and purchasing directly from the authorized car dealer auction means reasonable prices, a

large variety of quality cars to choose from, and a reliable car condition grading system. Bids on new and used repossessed and fleet

vehicles start as low as $100. By buying direct from a Government auction, it is often possible to buy jeeps for as low as $62.
href=”http://www.car-auctions.multiple-search.com> http://www.car-auctions.multiple-search.com

Make

buying your new car fun by purchasing through government & surplus auctions. Bids must be received by auction end date and time. Bids can

be brought into credit union, dropped in drop box, or mailed to the credit union You must Download Bid Form.